This thread has been doing the rounds on the conference_dev list as well Some of my thoughts in the aftermath of FOSS4G 2008.
I have heard very positive feedback from all quarters. As Arnulf alluded to in the AGM, I believe the decision to host in an 'untested' location WORKED. The mix of FOSS and proprietary worlds WORKED. The mix of the full-spectrum ecosystem from geek to user to academic to businessperson to government official WORKED. It WORKED on so many levels we'll be seeing positive spin-offs for years to come. Business people loved meeting developers and picking up the sense of community. Developers loved being with other developers and interacting with users and funders. And we did manage a code sprint of around 40 people. http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/FOSS4G2008_CodeSprint Cost: -Registration was well within the limits set by OSGeo of $600. It was NOT the deciding factor for most people. Academics and students got 50% discount, but these were a minority. -Travel was THE deciding factor. -Accommodation: yes, 'official' hotels where our agents got block bookings were not exactly budget prices (global tourist destination in high season) but we advertised and listed many links for organising one's own cheap accommodation from backpackers to B&Bs. So that should not have been a factor. -with more sponsorship we would have loved to support those who could not afford it. Luckily many who asked made a plan of their own. By its nature, a moving conference will be expensive to get to from many places. But it will be cheap and accessible to regional attendees and that's the point. That's part of OSGeo's mission. The value of bringing FOSS4G to South Africa (or Sydney or other future global venues) far outweighs the 'cost' to a few who could not make it. Sydney will be in the same boat next year - far from almost everywhere. But they're already focussing on Australia/NZ and Southeast Asia. And a core contingent of OSGeo techies WILL make it to FOSS4G each year. And there you have the magic mix. So, from me: -keep FOSS4G roaming the globe annually -stimulate and support local or regional events whenever and wherever they emerge -keep the FOSS4G mix as it is - don't split along a perceived technical-business divide. -put out RFPs even earlier to allow time to secure cheap venues, big sponsorships, optimal scheduling, etc. A case in point is http://www.igarss09.org/ where the conference was awarded years back enabling the hosting of thousands at a cheap venue (university). Gavin Fleming This message is intended for the addressee only. Information and attachments in this e-mail may contain confidential, proprietary, or legally privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient, or responsible for delivery of the message to the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution, or any action taken is prohibited and may be unlawful, and could result in a claim against you. _______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss